Editors' Picks

New Way to Get Around Town: Biking

Who would’ve thought that a city so in love with the automobile would relish the concept of bike sharing? But services like B-cycle, the city’s official two-wheeler program with 43 stations around downtown, and Spokefly, a membership-based startup that lets bike owners rent out their own spokes, have seen their popularity flourish this past year. And with efforts like the Green Lane Project, which helps urban areas incorporate better bicycle paths for safer travel, Austin is embracing cycling as a realistic alternative to gas-guzzling cars.

New Radio Station: The Fringe

It’s likely you’ve seen signs around town that say simply “JB & Sandy are Back.” That’s part of the guerrilla marketing campaign for JB Hager and Sandy McIlree’s morning show on new radio station Fringe Austin 105.3. Fans know that the duo was forced out of their old radio station, Mix 94.7, late last year after hosting its morning show for nearly 18 years. Bob Cole and Jason Nassour of KOKE FM snapped them up to help launch a new independent station in April, which focuses on Austinites, local events and a variety of music, from classics to up-and-coming bands from right here in town.

New Sporting Event: Austin Aces

When it comes to entertainment, Austin has always had a lot to offer its residents. But there’s been something lacking: a pro sports team. That changed in July when Billie Jean King’s pro tennis league, World TeamTennis, came to town. The Austin Aces, with Andy Roddick and 2013 Wimbledon women’s champion Marion Bartoli as the big draws, took over Cedar Park Center and thrilled fans with competitive yet family-friendly matches. Unfortunately, the Aces’ first season didn’t go quite as planned, with the team finishing tied for last place with the Irving-based Texas Wild. As they say in sports, there’s always next season.

New Festival: X Games

This year’s inaugural X Games got our adrenaline pumping. From insane jumps and fantastic flips to precarious landings, it was hard not to be on the edge of your seat for every moment of the four days of intense competition at Circuit of The Americas, in everything from skateboarding and BMX biking to Moto X and rally car racing. And to top it off, every night after the games, there was a huge concert featuring the likes of Kanye West, Gary Clark Jr. and The Flaming Lips.

​Revolutionary Movie Concept: Boyhood

Since his first big film, Slacker, director Richard Linklater has made a career out of some pretty harebrained ideas. Have two people meet on a train and then have them just talk throughout a film? Sure! Shoot a sci-fi thriller digitally and then animate it frame by frame? Why not? How about making a coming-of-age tale over 12 years with the same cast? That’s crazy—but the talented, not to mention incredibly patient, director made it work. Boyhood was universally acclaimed for its graceful storytelling and knockout performances from Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and newcomer Ellar Coltrane. The moment it was released, it became an early front-runner for the Oscars.

Building Facelift: Alamo Drafthouse/Highball on South Lamar

After a year and a half of construction (and plenty of moaning from displaced movie fans), the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar location and The Highball reopened in late August. South Austinites had been sorely missing their neighborhood staples, especially since the old strip mall was torn down and a mixed-use development went up in its place. Determined not to let the “new Austin” bug get to them, the Drafthouse team added three new theaters (for a total of nine), built seven themed karaoke rooms from scratch and brought back the quirky events that The Highball was famous for, including trivia nights, dancing, live music and the salacious tittie bingo.

New Music Festival: Weird City Hip Hop Festival

While a plethora of genres are represented in Austin’s music scene, hip-hop and rap have always felt a little underrated and overlooked. That’s why we were thrilled to see the Weird City Hip Hop Festival debut in September. Presented by Austin Mic Exchange, which organizes several hip-hop open mic nights and events across the city, and HE^RD Entertainment, the fest had Dilated Peoples, Black Milk, Riders Against the Storm and more perform for hyped-up crowds. No word yet on whether it’ll return next year, but we’re crossing our fingers.

Summer Weekend Must: W Wet Deck

Every Sunday afternoon during the summer, the W Hotel opened its rooftop pool—usually only available to residents and guests—to the general public. We’ll admit that the pool is pretty small and fills up fast, but this event is less about swimming and more about people-watching. With a DJ, drink specials and plenty of cool, sexy Austinites in tiny swimwear, it’s a pretty luxurious post-brunch hangout. Want a little more privacy? Splurge on a shaded cabana and pop some bottles with friends while you check out the scene.

Team No One is Talking About: Austin Aztex

With World Cup fever striking our fair city this summer, it seemed like soccer was all anyone could talk about. This bodes well for the Austin Aztex, the championship-winning amateur soccer team that will be joining the USL pro league in the spring. With this boost in status, and Aztex management on the hunt for a downtown location to build a new stadium, it seems like the city might be priming for its first major league soccer team. If the Aztex haven’t been on your radar yet, it’s time to start paying attention.

New Book: Thunderstruck and Other Stories by Elizabeth McCracken

University of Texas faculty member Elizabeth McCracken first made a name for herself in 1996 with The Giant’s House, a “romance” between a lonely librarian and a very tall 11-year-old. This year, the author released Thunderstruck & Other Stories, nine short stories that tackle themes of grief, betrayal and love. With her quirky sensibility and deep compassion for her characters, McCracken proved once again that she’s the rare author who can make even the oddest circumstances feel normal. In September, it was announced her work was a longlist finalist for a National Book Award.